Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) Stock Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC) shares crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $28.87 and traded as high as $40.36. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares last traded at $40.30, with a volume of 81,876 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $923.11 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.23 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a current ratio of 0.96.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were paid a $0.12 dividend. This is a positive change from Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 2nd. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s payout ratio is currently 32.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

In related news, insider Charity Isely sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.73, for a total value of $87,460.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,290 shares in the company, valued at $537,441.70. The trade was a 14.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Lark Isely sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.66, for a total value of $178,640.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 8,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $387,738.12. The trade was a 31.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 59.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new position in Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage during the third quarter worth $361,000. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC raised its holdings in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 64.7% during the third quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 449,007 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $13,331,000 after purchasing an additional 176,361 shares during the period. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage during the third quarter valued at about $430,000. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by 31.5% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 54,115 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,607,000 after purchasing an additional 12,975 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the 3rd quarter valued at about $421,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.99% of the company’s stock.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, retails natural and organic groceries, and dietary supplements in the United States. The company’s stores offer natural and organic grocery products, such as organic produce; private label repackaged bulk products, including dried fruits, nuts, grains, granolas, teas, herbs, and spices, as well as peanut and almond butters; private label products comprising grocery staples, household products, bulk foods, and vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as organic eggs, organic flavored coffee, and organic mustard; dry, frozen, and canned groceries; meat and seafood products; dairy products, dairy substitutes, and eggs; prepared foods; bread and baked products; beverages; and beer, wine, and hard cider products.